This blog is an insight to the thoughts behind the writer that is I...

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Authors in the Spotlight 3/7

In today's Authors in the Spotlight, we have authors Kathleen Lopez and Janice Seagraves!

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Name: Kathleen Lopez

How long have you been published? My first book was officially published in 2013. It had started “way back” in college as a homework assignment. The story just would not go away and I kept returning to it and it became a bucket list item to be published.

What's the worst part about being published? The worse part was trying to find editors and assistance you could trust. As an Indie Writer, you have to do a lot of investigation and networking in order to get a reputable editor, PA, publishing platform, beta readers, etc. One bad selection can cost you time, money, and good reviews.

What's the best part about being published? The best part of being published is when it all clicks and the finished product gets out there, it is just great. There is that sense of accomplishment for me knowing that I generated something completely out of thing air as it were. Once you polish your work and get it to print is a great success. You would not think it was as hard as it is, but the writing is just a part of it. Refining a book takes a lot of work, but worth it when someone tells you they read and enjoyed your work.

Are you self published or did you go through a publishing company? I started with a print-to-order publisher. It had me paying for so much. As a first time writer, it was a horrible experience. I had so many issues and when I spoke to them it was, ‘well for this price we can try this’ type of situation. I did have retention of my rights so after far too many months, pulled it back and relaunched it as a Self-Published author and have been ever since. Many new writers get trapped into this cycle. With CreateSpace now, it should never cost a writer to print their work in that fashion. While it rarely is a ultimately free venture, a writer today does not need that type of printing practice.

*What are the highs, if any? If there is a solid marketing and promotion plan then it can be beneficial for an Indie Writer. Obviously a print house will be invested in this product as it cost them money to print. They would like you to succeed as they benefit too. Getting a third party to invest in you and your work is great as they have access to a larger base and more resources that a writer may not have access to and your work gets out there.

*What are the lows, if any? Every little step came with a price tag if you have the wrong type of print house. For my experience, there was this distance between my work and me, which I was not comfortable with after a while. It was a lot of me paying for things that did not seem to benefit me in the end.

What is the name of your book(s)? Between the Shades of Light and Dark, Prodigal Son

Was it/were they an easy write for you? There are parts of the story that flow easily and without much struggling to get through a chapter. Then there are parts of the book that may stall a bit or suddenly start to go in a different direction that throws your plan off a bit. The more I write about a character, the better I know what they would want to do and it starts to be this weird collaboration between the writer and character. Having the knowledge that your story is strong and path is clear, then it works very well.

What's the hardest part about writing a book? When a character ‘decides’ they are going in a different direction, it takes a bit to re-center and rework the plan. As a writer is giving a voice to a character, sometimes as you are typing their story, it may take a turn. A phrase that comes to mind may push the story in a different way that was planned initially. The organic method of writing a character can be a game changer if the story starts to unfold where the character leads the writer, which can happen from time to time.

What's the easiest part about writing a book? When there is a clear picture in the writer’s mind of how the scene is supposed to go down. When all the characters are on board and are working with the author and are ‘following the script’ in the writer’s head, the story flies. I find that when I am excited about filling out the scene, whether it is a major or minor plot point, it is fantastic and I can get through that section rather quickly. Getting through a moment from start to end that you can pull off and get down on paper is thrilling.

Where can interested readers purchase their copy of your book(s)? My books are available on Amazon, which has my eBooks, Audiobooks, and Paperbacks. I also sell my books in all forms from my personal website. Sometimes I offer deals or discounts on my personal page.

Do you have any future projects in the works? I am currently working on my third book, Sweet Child of Mine. This is a bit different from my Murder-Mystery and Thriller/Suspense stories like my first and second book. For this third book, I went in the Paranormal direction. I am about half way completed with this story.

*Is there a tentative release date? I plan to have the book out in the late Spring.

Hi La Kata E.K. Thank you for allowing me to be a guest on your blog today.

Name: Janice Seagraves and I am a published author.

Janice Seagraves grew up with a deep love of science fiction and adventure stories. Always the consummate artist, she traded in her paint brush for a desktop to write breathless life-affirming novels that celebrate enduring love.

How long have you been published? Since 2006

What's the worst part about being published? The editing. Although I am finding I enjoy it a lot more than I used to.

What's the best part about being published? Holding my book in my hands

Are you self-published or did you go through a publishing company? At the current time, I am both self-published and I’m also published through a publishing company.

*What are the highs, if any? I love the entire act of creation. Something coming into my mind and I write about it. And when the project is finished and other people get to read it.

*What are the lows, if any? That’s the time when I can’t write. When the words won’t come. Although that hasn’t happened in a long time.

What is the name of your book(s)? I currently have six full length books: Windswept Shores, Windswept Shores Two, Matrix Crystal Hunters, Matrix Crystal Christmas, Matrix Crystal River, and Alien Heart (book one of the Chronicles of Arcon).

Then there are the anthologies that I’m part of: Persephone’s Song (Weather Witch), Entice Me (Werecat Love), and Roping the Cowboy (Follow Your Cowboy Heart).

Was it/were they an easy write for you? The first book was hard, from concept to edit. It was like giving birth, labor pains and all.

My stories are a lot easier now.

What's the hardest part about writing a book? The entire revision process. That’s when my manuscript must make sense and I have to hammer and chisel parts of it away so it’ll flow smoothly.

What's the easiest part about writing a book? The rough draft. That when I can fly and anything is possible.

Where can interested readers purchase their copy of your book(s)?Amazon, Barns and Nobles, and Smashwords

Do you have any future projects in the works? *Is there a tentative release date? Sometime this year (2017) Matrix Crystal Rebels will be published, and through my publisher Alien Desire. There is also another anthology in the works too.